River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-03-03


OF this number one hundred were dead heads
introduced by title only 10 be used in case o
emergency by any tardy constituent who ma,
at this late day think of some scheme for tn,
depletion Of the treasury, or who may hereafte
discover some creek in Northern Wisconsin
which he wishes declared navigable by statute
aud across the wide and deep waters of whicl
he is anxious 10 throw dam for the purpose o
| improving such nayigable stream, presumabl,
for the benefit Of its nayigators. but more likell
for the benefit of his own pocket.
With this increased number of new bills com
/ ing in al this late day, one of two things mus
result-either long session. extending wei
along toward May. a sighting ofthe business
in committee and in open session which is Meth
er desirable or right. if the bills have any merit
at all.
Among the most important measures under
discussion are the regulation of railroads, a,
regards transportation of live stock. the heating
of passenger coaches, and the long and shor
haul traffic; the prison contract question
women suffrage. and the suppression OF vice in
all forms. From my own experience in railroad.
ing should oppose the bill requiring railroad
companies to receive mixed carloads of cattle
sheep aud hogs. 1t is cruel in itself. extra haz.
ardous to the stock. and therefore hazardous to
the company hauling such cars. and not great
hardship 10 shippers as advocates of the bill
claim.
The heating ofcOaches by steam or electricity
ought to be accomplished as soon as possible
and public feeling is strong that railway
officials are now experimenting with every new
method suggested 10 determine what is the most
practicable means Of avoiding the terrible cal.
hav
the past six months history of railway acct
dents
The prison contract system is of vital impor-
lance TO the state. and while it may be true that
the contractors make money, it is also true that
the state saves money by the system, and the
competition Of prison made goods is so infnites
imal that it does not effect either manufacturers
or operatives 10 any sppreeiable extent. The
cl6mor tor the repeal emanates from the labor
members, who claim 10 represent the interests
Of the working men Of the state. They do not
appear to give any weight TO the fact that keep
ing the prisoners in idleness viii cost the State
a great sum. Of which every working man must
necessarily bear his proportion; o. to the other
fact that such idleness will turn the state prison
into a state infrmary for disabled felons, and
would be perfect haven of refuge for every
Au49 anu AHNtAANlGu MAtAtn III klt SUITE OF OUT
OF it. II would be an invitation to evil doors
and tramps in other states to cross the border in
the fall and commit crime for the purpose of Sc
curing soft retreat for the winter. The prospect
is that the bill will be killed. Notwithstanding
the outcries of the labor members.
Another scheme which ought to be killed, or
ought to consign every member voting for il to
private life forever afterit is the bin compelling
H..
the first day of January Of each year. an annual
pass TO each member Of the legislature, each
elective state officer and every judge Of any
court of record in the state. The promoters of
the bill claim that ifthe issue of passes to the
specified officers is made compulsory there can
be no charge Of corruption brought against
members, and they can still enjoy free rides in
spite ofthe Interstate Commerce law, and poe
kettheir mileage 10 boot. l don't think the
people are ready to set up their members as a
privileged class, by law. don't think that one
miller, or manufacturer. or merchant, win agree
that because his competitor in business is a
member Of the legislature he shall by law secure
an advantage in the way of travel that would
represent the profits upon many thousand dol
lars Of legitimate trade. In the event Of this
bill becoming a law it will be Of interest to
uAHAltces men 10 tllt 4bl
benefit of transportation thus secured. The plea
itself upon which this proposition is based, is
untenable. Members are paid, under the Con
stitution. for doing the work of the people; this
proposition now proposes that the railroad
companies shall also pay them for doing their
business, also! 1t has that appearance. Instead
of being bribed, by free passes, it is proposed
that members shall be bought by stipulated
Tbara &c huf lfttla aud mr.
difference in the methods
In my last I had something to say about the
Pension Bill which was vetoed by the President
and which Congress has failed TO pass over the
veto. The discussion of the bill and its veto il
eyoking some very bitter sentiments from the
Democratic press. notably from Mr.. Villas organ
/ the Madison Democrat II calls old soldiers
dead beats and paupers. and says that the coun
Try will feel relieved when the last one is dead
and buried 1t depends great deal upon wha
| is understood by the country. If the country
| is understood the rebels of the south. who make
/ JEFF Davis a God, whereas be was only traitor
and murderer. or the copper heads ofthe nortl
whose sympathies were with the rebels in tbs
field, but whose courage never rose to the poin
| which led them to carry a musket for the Gauss
they sncakingly espoused; or the Democratic
4
write sentences which ought to blister thu
| tongue and palsy the hand of their author i
these are the country can admit without con
troversy that the people will rejoice as they hea
the funeral knell of the last veteran, above who's
| grave no volley viii be fired by comrades wh'
stood shoulder to shoulder with him to receive
in their bodies the bullets aimed at the heart o
the nation. The thought is not pleasant on
but may it not be prophecy The writer of thu
above represents in this state the party whicl
elected the President who vetoed the pension
bill; the business partner the writer is one o
| the trusted advisors Of the President. The ma
| jority Of votes cast for the President came from
| the section which was in rebellion; hundred
| of the men who aimed the guns which sped th'
| bullets into the persons Of the soldiers of tn
l Union. are in positions of power in the Natlona
| government, and, so far from making treason
odious, are daily moulding public opinion, las j
| the Democrat Of Madisou) to render loyalty
| stigma, and Union veterans stencil. II may b.
| true that the people Of the North have alread
| forgotten the services which the Union veteran
! rendered. II may be true that they already be
| grudge the pittanee which the government dole
out in lieu Of limbs or health lost in the trenche
or the swamps of the south. 1t certainly is true
that the party in power in the National govern
ment IS doing all il can % foster such opinion Il
| the public mind. but if it al be true, and tn
country is already looking anxiously for the da
when the last veteran shall be thrust ont of sigh
that it may be relieved Of this incubus upon tn
body polite, the same spirit which lei them &
leave home and friends and profit to figh
for an idea abstraction of liberty sym
bOlized In the stars and stripes Of our Nations
flag and endure the dangers and fatigues whie
none may question they did endure. viii stil
FIRE the hearts Of the men in blue, and viii wea
their bronze insignia Ofseryice with all the prid
and all the courage with which they charge
and captured the rebel guns from which tn
baubles are cast. And white rebel sympathizel
may defame the wearsrs, the yictors Of IS II
main the victors stiIl. Rebel sympathizerse anne
steal what rebel arrnies could not retske.
In this connection 7 send q a little pOel
written the day the Democrat published &
TRADE, BY Capt J. H. Whitney, a Massaehui
etts veteran who has been prominently cor
nected with the G. A. R. in this state and VII
is now in the Senate Of the state
DEAD BEATS"
What means this great commotion about per
That shakes the body poltieas though it had
Z chilli
The bill they call dependent" which refers.